Playstation 3

[Sonnenburg]

Sorry if this is elsewhere. Is there any difference between the three PS3 models besides the size of the hard drive? I heard someone say that one wasn't as backward compatible as the others.

[General Zod]

Some of the newer models don't offer backwards compatibility, but mainly the difference is the size of the HDD. (Of course, they're all pretty much a waste of money imo).

[Bounty]

Here's a chart, which seems to be correct despite it's Wikiness as far as I can be bothered to recall.

Insert obligatory "why the hell would you buy a PS3?" remark here:

>_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[Xisiqomelir]

http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic. ... 58#2636558

All PS3s:

-BD playback
-Wireless controllers
-Wireless networking (except 20GB)
-SACD playback (except 40GB)

80GB:
-Software-based PS2 backwards compatibility. (List here)
-Flash card reader

60GB (Discontinued, plentiful)
-Hardware-based PS2 backwards compatibility (better than 80, check individual games at link above)
-Flash card reader

40GB
-NO PS2 BC
-2 fewer USB ports (2 instead of 4)
-No SACD playback

20GB (Discontinued, possibly locatable)
-Hardware-based PS2 backwards compatibility (better than 80, check individual games at link above)
-No wireless networking

IMO, buy the 60. It's the best value.

EDIT: If you don't care about PS2 BC, just wait. More price drops are coming.

[Lisa]

Insert obligatory "why the hell would you buy a PS3?" remark here

IIRC it is the least expensive BD player on the market. Apparenty it also works well as a media center.

[Vendetta]

Might have a couple of games one day as well.

[Xisiqomelir]

Might have a couple of games one day as well.

[Ubiquitous]

Might have a couple of games one day as well.

I have been playing MLB 07 The Show pretty much constantly now for a week and it is brilliant, especially on my 1080p TV. But apart from that, I have been pretty unimpressed with the games so far. But that will change with GTA 4 of course.

[Hotfoot]

Might have a couple of games one day as well.

I have been playing MLB 07 The Show pretty much constantly now for a week and it is brilliant, especially on my 1080p TV. But apart from that, I have been pretty unimpressed with the games so far. But that will change with GTA 4 of course.

GTA4 is multiplatform, chief.

And Xissy, go cry somewhere else. The list of worthwhile exclusives for the PS3 is still countable on one hand after more than a year. Everything else is either crap or multiplatform.

Maybe this year the PS3 will come into its own with a good selection of exclusive titles, but right now, it's still pretty weak. I honestly hope the PS3 does well, because some of the things coming down the pipe honestly look pretty good. I'm actually interested in Resistance 2's offering of 8 man co-op, if just intellectually to see how it goes.

[Xisiqomelir]

And Xissy, go cry somewhere else.

The only bitter tears here are from you and your fellow Xbot, chum. This was a perfectly reasonable thread, but I guess the allure of System Wars is just too much to resist. You can roll up your MSFT stock certs and fuck yourself with them.

[Stark]

Wait, what? Are you really that much of a self-parody? 'Roll up his stock certificates'? Are you listening to yourself?

[Vendetta]

Defensive much? Hell, I was the first person to mention that the primary purpose of a games console might be worth considering as part of it's feature set. The fact that the stellar exclusives* are always somewhere just around the corner and not out on shelves where people can buy them isn't my fault.

*At least ones not called Ratchet & Clank, because that is great, but not worth purchasing the system for.

[Hotfoot]

And Xissy, go cry somewhere else.

The only bitter tears here are from you and your fellow Xbot, chum. This was a perfectly reasonable thread, but I guess the allure of System Wars is just too much to resist. You can roll up your MSFT stock certs and fuck yourself with them.

News flash Xissy, nobody forced you to respond to his one-liner with smiley spam. But hey, since you know you can't defend yourself or your actions, why not lash out with meaningless jabs? That'll work and make you seem ever so reasonable. Never mind that I actually don't mindlessly hate or love any of the game systems, like you do. I look at them, get this, objectively. You know, basing conclusions on facts?

It's a crazy trend, I hear all the cool kids are doing it. Don't you want to be cool?

[Medic]

PS3's most impressive feature has got to be keyboard and mouse compatibility, not BRD or any such bells and whistles.

I mean, who'd a thunk it, FPS + keyboard + mouse

BRILLIANT! (cause apparently this is really HARD to do or something)

But seriously, why does Microsoft insist on stiff-arming it's consumers with the mere CHOICE to use a god damned different interface with only certain types of games? That's my only real gripe with my Xbrick compared to the PS3. I mean, the most likely thing to happen is pc gamers with bad budgets BUY XBOX's to play the newest games and that's PROPPING UP THE XBOX. Why the bloody hell haven't they done it? I can't imagine a reason it DOESN'T make sense.

[Stark]

It's pretty retarded, since it has USB ports etc. Even the PS2 had a few K+M games for fuck's sake.

Still, it's largely useless as I have no interest in playing any PS3 shooter that I know of.

[Medic]

It's pretty retarded, since it has USB ports etc. Even the PS2 had a few K+M games for fuck's sake.

Still, it's largely useless as I have no interest in playing any PS3 shooter that I know of.

It's just a very attractive ability since the X360 immediately outstripped my laptop PC the moment I bought it. (and for... an 8th or so of the price ) Even with all the disposable income I have, keeping pace with gaming PC performance specs is not an option, a console system gets around that but... fucking controller!

I'm of 2 minds of getting an adapter for the X360 just to use a keyboard and mouse. It might make Halo 3 online fun since I won't be frustrated by the thumbsticks all the time. I don't know how people get good with that shit... I think a roller ball (like on some mice) on a controller would be better than sticks for fps's and rts's.

[Praxis]

Sorry if this is elsewhere. Is there any difference between the three PS3 models besides the size of the hard drive? I heard someone say that one wasn't as backward compatible as the others.

There's two current models.


Here's the major differences (there's some minor stuff like differing number of USB ports on some too).


Current models:

80 GB: does everything. WiFi, Bluetooth, the works. Uses *mostly* software emulation for PS2 games, so great but not perfect compatibility.

40 GB: same as 80 GB, except cannot play PS2 games at all. Lacks CompactFlash and SD card slots.


Discontinued models:

60 GB: Does everything. Contains actual PS2 processor, for near-perfect compatibility.

20 GB: Lacks WiFi and lacks CompactFlash and SD card slots.

The 80 GB and 60 GB are virtually identical, except that the 60 GB had some PS2 hardware in it. Also, all models use SATA 2.5" drives so you can upgrade them yourself later, so don't really worry about the drive space.


If you care about PS2 games, pick up a 60 GB if you can find one and don't care about lack of warranty, otherwise grab an 80.

If you don't care about PS2 games, grab a 40 GB. You'll get WiFi versus the 20 GB that lacks it.

It's all mute since the 60 and 20 GB are discontinued; so the main choice is, do you want to play PS2 games? If so buy an 80, otherwise buy a 40.

[Connor MacLeod]

I think I'm fairly disgusted with the fact that the console companies are trying to make their consoles more like computers, rather than sticking with what they know.

I envision some point in the future Xbox 360s will, for example, will be able to be equipped with Microsoft Office so you can finish that big spreadsheet for work tomorrow while blasting aliens in Halo VIX.

And probably as a side benefit, you get Master chief or Cortana replacing the little paperclip dude.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

I think I'm fairly disgusted with the fact that the console companies are trying to make their consoles more like computers, rather than sticking with what they know.

I envision some point in the future Xbox 360s will, for example, will be able to be equipped with Microsoft Office so you can finish that big spreadsheet for work tomorrow while blasting aliens in Halo VIX.

And probably as a side benefit, you get Master chief or Cortana replacing the little paperclip dude.

Actually, if you really want to do that (meaning type, write, surf), there's the Asus EE machine that goes for about 400 bucks, and it's incredibly portable.

[Praxis]

I think I'm fairly disgusted with the fact that the console companies are trying to make their consoles more like computers, rather than sticking with what they know.

I envision some point in the future Xbox 360s will, for example, will be able to be equipped with Microsoft Office so you can finish that big spreadsheet for work tomorrow while blasting aliens in Halo VIX.

And probably as a side benefit, you get Master chief or Cortana replacing the little paperclip dude.

I don't mind about the multimedia features. Video streaming, Blu-ray playback, etc...saves me buying an extra box. Of course, I wouldn't care if these features WEREN'T there, either. Most of them don't matter, and if R&D time could be better spent on games I'd rather see that.

But the games need to remain simple. Not Nintendo-simple perhaps (drop the Friend Codes) but seriously- the amount of SKUs we're seeing is ridiculous. XBox 360 Core, Arcade, Premium, Elite, Halo Edition...it's just silly. It needs to stop. There should be one model. Give it any abilities you want, but those abilities should be on the side- the user never even needs to know about them unless they want them.

[Ghost Rider]

I think I'm fairly disgusted with the fact that the console companies are trying to make their consoles more like computers, rather than sticking with what they know.

I envision some point in the future Xbox 360s will, for example, will be able to be equipped with Microsoft Office so you can finish that big spreadsheet for work tomorrow while blasting aliens in Halo VIX.

And probably as a side benefit, you get Master chief or Cortana replacing the little paperclip dude.

But, but ...those features make for better subjective gaming experiences!!

I mean instead of buying a real DVD player and game system...you can get an all in one!

Why buy a computer at all? What need will you have for such a primitive item when you can buy MS/Sony Playwonder IV! Even if the UI and functionality sucks balls.

[DaveJB]

but seriously- the amount of SKUs we're seeing is ridiculous. XBox 360 Core, Arcade, Premium, Elite, Halo Edition...it's just silly. It needs to stop. There should be one model. Give it any abilities you want, but those abilities should be on the side- the user never even needs to know about them unless they want them.

If they had just the Premium for normal users, and Elite for those who really need the larger hard drive or have more money than sense, that'd be okay in my eyes. It's the Core/Arcade versions that I don't see the point of (not counting the Halo one, as it was a limited run) - I can't imagine they're much cheaper for Microsoft to make, so it just seems like they're around to fleece customers who foolishly buy them, then need to shell out hundreds more to upgrade it to be actually useful.

[Vendetta]

I can't imagine a reason it DOESN'T make sense.

The reason they don't allow mouse and keyboard control of games is that it's an advantage in some games, and Live is designed to smooth that out as much as possible so that you know if someone's owning you at a game it's because he's probably better at it than you, not that he's using an ultra-precise control system, or got all the graphics turned off so you show up better and he gets an extra couple of frames a second.

[Connor MacLeod]

I don't mind about the multimedia features. Video streaming, Blu-ray playback, etc...saves me buying an extra box. Of course, I wouldn't care if these features WEREN'T there, either. Most of them don't matter, and if R&D time could be better spent on games I'd rather see that.

See, I DO mind that. If I want to watch DVDs, I've got a DVD player specifically hooked up for that purpose to my entertainment center. Or, I can watch it on my computer if I'm really desperate. I use my PS2 for gaming. I can count on one hand the times over the years I've used it for playing DVDs.

Yes, having "all in one features" saves you the neccesity of buying certain options, but this assumes you want those options. I don't give a flying fuck right now about Blu-Ray OR HD-DVD. I see it as an unneccessary feature. And I wouldn't be surprised if making it "multi-feature" wears out the damn machine faster, either.

What REALLY annoys me (about the PS3) is that the one feature I was perhaps most interested in was the backwards compatability (since I have a buttload of PSX and PS2 games to play) but since that's apparently a problem for Sony, its holding me back from even considering buying a PS3. Its enough to maybe even overcome my natural (Decades long) dislike for Microsoft.

If you're goign to try and emulate a computer, the companies could at least make the things bloody adaptable. PC components have been plug and play for a long time now.

The only feature that might be "useful" is internet connections, and thats largely only if you're a fan of multiplayer (which I'm not.)

But the games need to remain simple. Not Nintendo-simple perhaps (drop the Friend Codes) but seriously- the amount of SKUs we're seeing is ridiculous. XBox 360 Core, Arcade, Premium, Elite, Halo Edition...it's just silly. It needs to stop. There should be one model. Give it any abilities you want, but those abilities should be on the side- the user never even needs to know about them unless they want them.

Yeah, its silly. If they can make that manyn variations on the basic systme, I don't see why they can't diversify in such a way to allow people to find the system they want. Or just make the consoles more "plug and play" like computers are.

I wouldn't mind giving up internet access or Blu-Ray on a PS3 for a lower price, and backwards compatability is a plus for me. I'm sure there are other players who would prefer other variants. I'm sure there are players who are opposite - they'd give up backwards compatability but keep the internet access for multiplayer, for example.

[Connor MacLeod]

But, but ...those features make for better subjective gaming experiences!!

I mean instead of buying a real DVD player and game system...you can get an all in one!

Why buy a computer at all? What need will you have for such a primitive item when you can buy MS/Sony Playwonder IV! Even if the UI and functionality sucks balls.

Dont' forget Blu ray and HD-DVD. Buying a console means buying a share into th eformat wars